Cooper's job as AG is to fulfill duties of his office

In defending North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage in court, Attorney General Roy Cooper is fulfilling the duties of his office, his personal views notwithstanding. He should be left alone to do his job.

Cooper personally opposes Amendment One. The Asheville-based Campaign for Southern Equality has urged him to follow the lead of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, who has refused to defend that state's ban on same-sex marriage

"I am hopeful that N.C. Attorney General Cooper will take the same course of action as Virginia Attorney General Herrin and choose not to defend Amendment One, an unjust law that will ultimately be ruled unconstitutional," the Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the campaign, said in the statement.

"Every day that Amendment One remains on the books, same-sex families in North Carolina are harmed because they are denied fundamental rights and protections. We're calling for full rights and protections under the law immediately for (lesbian, gay, bisexual, ransgender) people. Patience ceases to be a virtue when people are suffering."

Cooper, who is believed to be a Democratic candidate for governor in the 2016 elections, agrees same-sex marriage should be permitted and expressed the belief that "basic fairness eventually will prevail."

"However, when legal arguments exist to defend a law, it is the duty of the office of the Attorney General under North Carolina law to make those arguments in court," Cooper said in a written statement.

The practice of law is one of the least understood and most vilified professions in our society. A lawyer is duty bound to represent the interests of his client, regardless of his personal beliefs. The vast majority of lawyers, like Cooper, take that duty very seriously.

That's why a criminal defense attorney will not ask his client if that client is guilty. The lawyer wants to be able to give his client the best possible representation, as is his duty, without being influenced by his view of the client's guilt.

Consider the case of Edwardo Wong. There was no question Wong had killed Highway Patrol Trooper Shawn Blanton. The issue was whether he was guilty of first-degree murder and should be given the death penalty. His attorneys presented a thorough and aggressive defense. Wong was convicted but was spared the death sentence.

Mark Melrose, one of Wong's attorneys, acknowledged he found it difficult to defend Wong but thought it was important that Wong received his due-process rights under the Constitution.

Besides the question of fairness, a thorough defense lessens the chance that a convicted defendant will get a new trial based on poor representation.

Cooper has a track record of providing effective legal counsel to the state, but that doesn't matter to his Republican critics. The General Assembly already has hired outside counsel to defend the state's voter-ID law and is considering doing the same regarding Amendment One.

Cooper's "own actions have raised legitimate concerns about his ability to uphold his oath of office," Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Thom Tillis wrote. "It's unfortunate we have to take this step to ensure the voters' strong support for a constitutional amendment protecting marriage is defended."

What actions? Like so much that this General Assembly has done to harm the people of North Carolina, this statement is not based on facts. Instead, it is a scurrilous attack on the integrity of a public servant based on ideology.

This far Cooper, unlike Herring, has done nothing to suggest he cannot fulfill his duties effectively. If that changes, then the General Assembly has an obligation to act. Until then, the legislators should butt out.

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Cooper's job as AG is to fulfill duties of his office

In defending North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage in court, Attorney General Roy Cooper is fulfilling the duties of his office, his personal views notwithstanding. He should be left alone to do